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BLACK HILL : AMBER’S GULLY – RIDGE TRACK
Loop Time : 1 hour, 50 minutes, Distance : 4 kms |
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AMBER’S GULLY
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The track starts from Gorge Road, just before the gorge itself is entered. There is a large signed parking area alongside the road which is easy to find.
Here is the entry through Gate 9 ...
The track along here is taking on a vivid green colour after some autumn rain.
The first point of interest is the remains of a two-room cottage called Amber's Ruin. I presume Amber was an early settler, but have not seen any information about him.
We shortly come to a fork, with Amber's Gully Nature Trail running off to the right. This is a pretty trail which follows the stream bed up, and later briefly rejoins the Amber's Gully Track. This Track turns sharply left here, and we follow it.
Looking back as we climb, this quarried hill face comes into view.
There are nice views across the Plains too – the green swathe of the Torrens Valley. The quarried hill face is on the left.
There is a nice view up the Torrens Gorge too, but the sun was in the way! This unsigned and uninviting steep concrete block trail is the beginning of Main Ridge Track. Much better for coming down, unless you're in training. I followed the right fork here, up Amber's Gully.
The track is fairly steep, with one long level section half way up. Here is a reminder of a past fiery ordeal.
Near the top of the valley there is also this evidence of an unspectacular mine. On the other hand it may have been a pit toilet!
The thistles are beautiful in any season.
Passing a water tank, and about an hour from the start, I reach the top ridge and turn left. This is a view back pst the junction to one of the Sugarloaves.
There is an excellent view of the Montacute Mine from here, looking down Pix's Gully Track.
A little further along we find two sculptures – one natural, one man-made.
This next view looks back across to a range of hills which (by a process of elimination) must be the Sugarloaves. I never quite figured out what a sugarloaf is!
The Main Ridge track does follow along a ridge, and has spectacular views – this one north.
There is a track off to the right called Milne Track (just to be confusing, it is called Lodge Track on the official map, and Mine Track on one of the Park signs). And now we come to the downward slope, some of it quite steep, and finishing with the afore-mentioned unpleasant concrete blocks.
I enjoyed this walk with its variety.
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SUMMIT
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AMBER’S GULLY
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